How to EASILY Remove Labels off Plastic Containers - the COMPLETE guide 

Thank you so much! Now all the plastic containers I have lying around won't go to waste!

You have just saved me HOURS of frustration in removing labels from over one-hundred bottles for a project. Thank you!! One note: If the plastic is cold before adding the hot water, 99% of the adhesive will pull off with the label.

Finally!!! Something that WORKS! For all you geeks out there, max temp for plastic is 170F. Glass, no problem. I didn't use baking soda. Just put a puddle of oil in my hand and went to town. Same with dish washing detergent and water (to remove the oil mess). Love it!!

Just tried this method and it worked like a charm. Took me about 15 minutes for two containers and way less frustration than peeling and scraping the labels off! Thanks :D

I don't know how you figured this out, but I'm so glad you did! I just tried this on an old vitamin container that I plan to repurpose, and it worked perfectly!!

This is amazing! Your soothing voice and to-the-point instruction was fantastic. Thank you so much!

I ran out of label remover so I gave this home-brew solution a try. It does take longer than using a purpose made product but it works really well. I usually wait until I have a bunch to de-label, so I'll probably stick to using the spray on remover for the time-savings when I have it on hand...but this is great in a pinch.

Wow, this is an amazing hack! I can’t believe how well it worked just using oil and baking soda. Thanks!

Wowzer! It worked! Thank you. I just used the oil after and then washed with dish soap. It worked a treat. Brilliant video, thank you for sharing! You’re a star!

Thank you!!!! After trying everything I finally was able to get the sticky residue off my old coffee syrup bottles to reuse them for other things! 💗 The baking soda/oil trick really helped!!!

It’s 12:01 a.m. So glad I found this, it’s what I’ve been looking for. It will be the first thing I do (after coffee) tomorrow morning. I’m confident that it will work out perfectly.

I've tried using hot water along with alcohol,acetone,scrubbing things and nothing 🙃 has worked. I was going to keep looking for help till your voice lured me in to keep listening. I'm so glad I did and can't wait to try! Thanks

Thank you so much! I have been trying to upcycle glass and plastic containers to use as planters! This was very helpful!

I tried your method. The paper labels and the sticky glue underneath came off with vegetable oil and baking soda. It was like magic! Thank you very much! 🙏😊

Excellent presentation, voice, video quality, sound, etc.

Just tried this on 2 plastic bottles and 1 glass container and it really worked great. Thank you so much for this video. So Awesome !!!!!!!!!

I loved how quickly and easily I was able to remove the label and I really liked your way of explaining! Thank you 😊

Tried this just now. This method works fantastically. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙏❤

Thanks so much. I've struggled with this. There's a saurkraut container that works amazing for my screws and nails. And I have this long drawn out process to remove the labels which is so frustrating. I was using oil after soaking in hot water to remove the paper labels. I found I had to do multiple passes to get them clear and then use a kitchen towel to use elbow grease to get them completely clean. So your baking soda thing sounds like it makes great sense. It doesn't appear to mar the surface too. Not sure if this will work on the whole foods glass spice jars I use for small screws and hardware. But will give it a try. Thanks again!

Absolutely best method! Thank you for sharing this! I use bottles in my special ed classes for task boxes and removing labels and the sticj=ky glue residue has driven me crazy!

A Diamond suggestion! It’s so so so easy this way. I did 6 12” Husky boxes in less than 10 minutes. One important thing… if you have hot water running out of your taps, hot enough to make your hand slightly uncomfortable, just plug the sink, run that really hot tap water in there and put label down in the water for 3 minutes. Some labels are ready for removal in 2 minutes. Pull slowly… slow enough to not leave residue with some labels. You’ll find that the sturdiest plastics release their labels more quickly.

30 other people said use rubbing alcohol but I have tried it and its great at removing the label but does nothing about the residual glue. Your solution worked quickly and easily!

I LITERALLY TRIED THIS OUT NOW, N I CANNOT STOP SAYING WOW. Thank you

What a coincidence I look up “how to” and I have the exact same container that had cashews lol. I want to put my coffee in it. After that, there is a really cute tutorial on how to label clear containers using computer printed text and clear packing tape

Amazing. I just tried it, and it really works. I had several little jugs exactly like the one shown here, and I have been dreading trying to get the labels off. I want to use them to store dried beans. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just subscribed.

Thank you! I had tried everything to get the residue off of some plastic snack containers to no avail. This method worked!

Did just like you said, but waited a full 15+ minutes also like you said. Worked like a charm! The label came right off along with 95% of the adhesive residue. Took a paper towel, added a teaspoon of canola oil to it, and the rest of glue slipped right off. Many thanks! 🥰

Well, I really wanted to thank you for having the exact video that I needed. I have been collecting nut & pickle plastic containers just like the ones in your video. I use them to hold a variety of things in my work room/garage. Until now, I have been having to look at the one clear side to see whats in each...TY

Wife soaks plastic bottles in used dish washing water and peels. Then I take to my shop cut an old rag to size to fit over gummy residue, wet with a solvent, let set 10 minutes and then rub right off. I've found the best solvent is paint thinner or denatured alcohol, depending on the composition of the adhesive. I used to covet the transparent ( yellow ) pill bottles for small parts. Now that we are older, it seems we have a lot ! Thanks for sharing your method.

I googled and tried 3 useless methods. As soon as I tried this… it worked perfectly. Thank you

I realize I'm late to the party with your video having been posted 6 years ago but I wasn't looking for this kind of assistance until now. This has really helped us out, thank you.

Worked like a charm!!!! THANKS!!!! I already had the label off but removing the glue residue from creating the mixture to letting it soak, to wiping the glue away took less than 7 minutes. :)

I was skeptical, but this worked great. I didn't need to use the baking soda,. What little glue residue that remained wiped off easily with just canola oil. Thanks!

Thank s so much for Recycling and saving my sanity! I have great plastic jars big for lots of different items. But it seemed to me the adhesive being used lately was really stubborn! I had used before a hair dryer and it worked great. Now Im off to the kitchen to try your method!

I keep coming back everytime to re-watch. Very helpful 🤗

Thank you so much! I currently have a plastic container sitting in the sink soaking in water in my attempt to remove the label. I want to use it to store buttons for my sewing and crochet projects. I'm going to fill that container with hot water and use the rest of your helpful hints to remove the label and adhesive. Thank you for sharing!!!

THANK YOU! It Worked.. After peeling off the label, I just put the paste on the residue, rubbed it in and scraped it off with the backside of a knife. Easy peasy.

I’ve been driving myself crazy w/these stuck on labels for years 🤯 Thanks for your solution.

Thank you, it worked! I previously did olive oil but still had residue. Then I filled the jar with hot water and added the baking soda. No more mess!

Hello!!! Thank you so much. I just used your method on a glass jar. Worked like a charm. ❤❤❤❤

Thank you so much, I've been worrying about a few plastic bowls I bought and couldn't get the residue off, my headache went away. Thank you so much, this helped

Wow! Just what I was looking for. I love these square plastic jars for storage but couldn't get the label off. Awesome!

Thanks so much.I have the exact containers and wanted to reuse them. Now I can get the sticky label stuff off with ease.

I have a lot of sticky residue on a 2Qt container that has been winning the scraping battle. Soap and water did very little. Green scouring pad only helped later after the bits were all stuck in the glue, as I tried the vinegar spray and scrape method. Which brings me here. I'm so glad you showed the amount of oil you used for the mixture!! Thank you!

I wanted to remove the label from a pump plastic bottle that had liquid hand soap in it, a beutiful dark blue bottle with a great pump. I used her method and it worked so well! Now I will use this pump bottle for dish soap! Just a little dish soap is all you really need! Thanks for this great video! P.S. I love how this method does not use any thing toxic!

Yours was the first DIY that came up. It sounds pretty easy, a great way to recycle these containers. I’ll try it and let you know, thanks!

Thanks for this video. It was the first Google hit when I typed in "how do you get the sticky labels off a rubbermaid container" It worked like a charm. I have no idea why Rubbermaid, in particular, makes their labels so hard to remove. Multiple thumbs up!!!

I just tried it and it worked soooooo well. thank you fo sharing this treasure with us . this video deserves way more views

This is great! I have so many of these containers from all the nuts I buy and eat. I have to try this. I've just been putting chalk board adhesive paper over the labels, but I'd rather take the old labels off first. I like that you don't have to use any chemicals to get the labels off, just ingredients most people already have on hand. I love to upcycle, I'm going to try this with jars too! I'm excited to give this a try! Thanks for sharing!

Good for you for repurposing our non biodegradable plastics. I do that too. I was using Goo Gone, which works, but with great difficulty and time. This was actually faster, and I did about 8 at a time. I heated my water to 140º and let them sit for 20 minutes, then put the oil baking soda mixture and let that sit for quite awhile too. It actually permeated the labels I could not even start to remove. It took awhile, but did a great job.

I often need to use plastic food containers from the deli to take stool samples to the vet. I could never figure out how to get the residue from the labels off these containers. This is great information!

I had been trying warm water as well, but I didn't allow it to sit long enough. Thank you SOOO much!

Worked like a charm. I used coconut oil. I slathered on the coconut oil and then generously sprinkled baking soda on the container and scoured with my fingers and a Mr. Clean eraser wipe. Probably used less than a tablespoon of each. After rinsing there was oily residue from the coconut oil and I washed it off with dish soap. I had tried unsuccessfully with dish soap and a Mr. Clean eraser wipe. The secret ingredient was the baking soda! Thank you.

Simple, easy, works. Outstanding video.

I just tried it on some very stick residue on the bottom of a spray bottle after I tried soaking the label off in water. The label came off but the sticky residue remained. I tried oil by itself, dish soap, and toothpaste. Nothing worked. But the oil/baking soda mixture worked! I really didn't think the sticky residue was going to come off as clean as it did. Thank you!

This video is going to change my life! Small things matter. Thank you for sharing it!

Thank you so very much for these instructions. I have been looking for weeks to find a way to remove the label so I can add my own labels. This is just great!!!

Thanks for the tip. I used it to remove the medical lable, and it work like a charm.

I'm so glad I found your video! I've been looking for content on upcycling things since I hate to throw away good containers.

You a great job explaining the process. I listened to 3 others that didn't work. Thank you.

After tryig other methods of removing the glue residue, I still had a lot left that would not come off. Your method worked great and I’m glad you mentioned the oil to baking soda ratios. That helped me make the amount I felt I needed! I also tried and removed a few other labels with the hot water and that also worked great. Thank you for making a straight forward presentation that worked as stated!

You are genius! This really works everyone. Thanks for the tip

Thank you! I have a huge plastic barrel that I’ve been wanting to repurpose. Can’t wait to get it all cleaned up and then decorate it.

The baking soda and oil trick worked great and I didn’t have to buy anything new! Thanks!

This method works! I can't wait to use it on all the plastic containers & lids I haven't been able to remove label glue from! Thanks!!!

Thank god for Google! I needed a solution for the adhesive! Thanks! I figured out the hot water label peel method on my own but not how to get the adhesive off cleanly. I tried using packing tape to tap all over the residue to pick off the glue but that rarely worked completely. So I was left with an ugly gooy mess or a choice to leave the labels on and cover them over. More work. Costco canister labels usually peel off cleanly. M&Ms cannisters however are my favorite plastic jars because they have that easy grip side contour for picking up the cannisters off the shelf. Their labels always left adhesive behind so instead of fighting the label I relegated them to the garage for plant food and nuts and bolts and other less attractive chores.

This is easy and excellent result. Thank you

Thanks so much! I'm a librarian and I'm doing upcycling for a library program where we're turning plastic bottles into piggy banks! I really needed to get allllll the label and residue off. Your finished products look beautiful! Sometimes I'm afraid that reused plastic will look tacky but yours has changed my mind!

OMG!!! I have the very same plastic jar and have been trying for two weeks (off and on) to get that darn glue off. Your solution worked!!! I tried vinegar, WD-40, and a very fine steel wool pad with a soap solution. When I used your solution, it worked. I did use too much oil, but now I know how to get that glue off that seemed to be put on by the devil himself! THANKS!!!!!! ps---interestingly, yours was the very first video I came across and it is the VERY same jar!!

Thank you! You saved my life ...well ...saved my life from frustration about this process

That’s exactly what I use those containers for. I have a ton of them but I’ve never been able to remove the danged stickers! I should have thought to search for a solution long ago🤦🏼‍♀️ Thank you so much!!

Wow ! The oil/soda solution worked like magic ! Thank you so much !!

That was so cool to watch. It’s a shame to throw these away. Fantastic. Thank you.

I had thought of using hot tap water which did help some but apparently was not hot enough. Also I was going to use Goo Gone for the adhesive, but didn't have enough. So glad I found your video!

You, my new BFF, are a lifesaver!! Thank you for this fabulous idea!

THANKS SO MUCH, THIS DID THE JOB!!!! I can't tell you how many containers I have sitting around to repurpose but haven't because of the label, just didn't want to do that battle. Now, I'm on a roll! Look out containers, here I come!!! Thanks again! Like in place!

Thank you for letting us know that it was expired oil because sometimes expired oil does change the composition and it may or may not work. That was always a question that I had because I have expired oil and I need to put it to use.

Excellent tip! I've been trying to do this for a while now. I don't know why I didn't check RU-vid first. Thanks for the great video!

this is literally life changing :DD thank you so much :)) ! I just tried this this morning on these water bottles and it worked flawlessly :) major thanks!

You are my hero! I have been struggling to remove labels from large pretzel barrels to turn into terrariums.Cant wait to try your method. :)

I tried your method and it worked great! Thanks for the tip.

I looked this up and found you !!!!! Great video , and I'm about to do 3 for storage . Thank You

Wow, this worked great with the hot water on the inside. Haven’t tried the second part yet. Thanks so much!

I have the same container that I am going to try your method on it tonight. Thank you very much for he video.

A modern day GENIUS. Works like I wanted it to. Thank you so very much. I subscribed for more of your good stuff.

Does this work on "softer" type plastic jars, such as old hummus containers? I really need to use them & be able to easily see through them for beads (lots & lots of beads, clasps, etc in the high hundreds is a conservative estimate) & beading projects in the works and I'm loosing it... like about to snap. I've been at this on only 2 containers so far for several hours w rubbing alcohol, nail polish remover, fingernails, exacto knives & razors & they're still not clear due to all the sticky residue, not to mention the many more containers I haven't even began trying to peel. I think I'm actually getting a blister on my index finger! I'm so glad I saw your video. I just hope it works for softer plastic containers too. Just looked and all I have is apple cider vinegar & white vinegar. Will that work as an oil?

Wow, it worked on an unbelievably hard to get off label, thank you so much❤

Another trick i used to do is to heat up the sticker area with hair dryer. It works just as well! Except with hot water you can just fill it and leave it but with hair dryer you have to constantly hold it😂 but it works for things that cannot be filled with water. The idea is the same, to soften the adhesive with heat so its easier to peel

Saved me hours of frustration. Thank you. I really like your channel. SUBSCRIBED.

I have tried this trick and it worked well,thank you for sharing

You are amazing! This worked so easily. I have also been looking for solution to take those sticky labels off plastic containers!! Thank you so much.

That's amazing! I've been wanting to recycle these Kirkland sea salt containers for a while now, but I just had no idea how to remove the label. Thanks for posting!

Thank you for showing us this. I was doing your first method. Put it in soapy water, wait an hour, then peel it in running hot water. Works but takes forever. I think your method might be easier and faster.

I am just gob smacked! I could not believe how easily the sticky label came off the plastic bottle. For years I have been trying everything, like wd40, turpentine, kerosene and even that citrus stuff... The hot water inside is a great logical way to loosen the glue. Then the most amazing thing when I mixed the baking soda and oil..... I would never have guessed the outcome. Thanks very much for such a great method. Cheers, Brisbane Australia.

I LITERALLY saw this video AFTER I'd already tried soaking it in water first. Lol Which of course, didn't work. I'm trying to de-label the exact kind of container. So I did your way and it worked perfectly. I didn't use baking soda however cause I was worried it would scratch the plastic. Olive oil and a paper towel worked great too. Thanks for sharing this!

Thank you! This helped me out! Other methods that normally work were not working!

Great video! But I knew you were going to drop that cup! Lol Nice catch though!

Thank you, I had problems with the big jar of Planters brand. I just filled up the jar and let sit for a few min, then rubbed with a napkin. This really worked so fast.

omg thank you! This worked so well! I have plenty of shakers I want to re-purpose and oh lord knows that protein powder containers are the best for storing rice!

First time ever commenting on a video… just had to for this one. This worked like magic! Thank you so much for sharing!